A03

• What are the strengths of the multi-store model?

  1. Scientific research support
  2. Case study support
• What are the limitations of the multi-store model?

  1. Notion of unitary stores is too simplistic
  2. Model solely emphasises shallow processing
• Strength = scientific research support

  • There is considerable research evidence for the existence of separate memory stores which are mostly controlled lab studies
  • E.g. Baddeley (1966) shows coding is semantic for LTM and acoustic for STM
  • This supports the MSM’s view that these two memory stores are separate and independent
  • HOWEVER - many of the research studies make use of artificial materials
• Strength = case study support

  • Psychologists have used case studies of individuals with brain damage and amnesia to show different areas of the brain are involved in STM and LTM
  • E.g. case study of patient HM whose LTM was damaged after surgery but his STM was still intact
  • HOWEVER - case studies are based on only one individual so generalisation is difficult
• Limitation = idea of unitary stores is too simplistic

  • The MSM suggests that STM and LTM are single ‘unitary’ stores but research doesn’t support this
  • It has been found that STM is different in the kinds of memories stored there
  • E.g. Shallice and Warrington (1970) studied patient KF (who had amnesia)
  • KF’s STM for digits was very poor when read aloud to him but better when he was able to read the digits to himself
  • Suggests there is one STM store to process visual information and another for auditory information
  • The WMM includes these
• Limitation = model solely emphasises shallow processing

  • According to the MSM what matters in rehearsal is the amount of time
  • Craik and Tulving (1975) determined what really matters is the type of processing done when rehearsing, things that are processed more deeply are more memorable
  • Participants given a list of nouns and asked a question involving shallow or deep processing
  • Participants remembered more words in the task involving deep processing, known as elaborative rehearsal
  • This type of rehearsal is needed for LTM storage, MSM doesn‘t take this into account